[NTLUG:Discuss] Job Searching

[Steve Baker]

Daniel Hauck wrote:

> > Now here's the nasty twist.  If companies can't import the H1B workers
> > they want, especially software companies, it is tremendously easy to
> > have the development work done overseas (essentially an unlimited H1B
> > situation) and then just transfer the software back here via the
> > internet.  Package it up here, perhaps (and claim that it's American
> > made) and sell it.  All without any American software engineering.  The
> > jobs are gone permanently.  There is no law against it.  Oh, yeah, and
> > the guys with the stock options and bonuses have just made a killing.
> 
> If that kind of thing would really work, it'd be done a bit more often than
> it is now.  The REALITY is that, as far as software development is
> concerned, experienced American programmers are training and guiding the
> sweat-shop programmers from other countries... can't get that benefit/effect
> if you move the shop overseas.

That's absolutely *NOT* the case everywhere.  I recently did some contracting
with a company in California who have most of their programmers working in
India.  I initially presumed that there would be US programmers driving
the operation - but not so, the US office was relegated to beta testing
and turning the Indians' technical documentation into decent American
English...the only parts that couldn't be done in their satellite office.

With email as the primary means of communication, and programmers the
world over working strange hours by preference in many cases, you really
couldn't tell where the work was being done.

America's educational system really isn't that much better than many
other countries - and all it takes to make a good programmer is education
and a $400 PC.  It's naive to think that other countries can't do that.

Where US companies have the advantage is in finances, etc - that's why
you'll see US front-offices with programmers working abroad.

----------------------------- Steve Baker -------------------------------
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